I know you sometimes feel ordinary but you’re not.
You are one of a kind ~ a unique and beautiful blend of all God wants you to be.
You may feel invisible … like you’re just one of millions of others.
But there’s no comparison. God sees you friend.
And when God sees you, He sees someone He loves.
Listen as He whispers…”You are precious and honored in my sight …. and I love you.” Is 43:4
He also sees someone He knows.
“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Ps 139:1
Since God knows you, has a purpose for you and loves the way He made you, I’m confident He wants you to feel the same way. Watch, listen and let Him sing these truths over your heart today. {And if you’re reading this in email, click here to watch it online.}
You really are…
Beautiful
Loved
Cherished
Chosen
Treasured
Sacred
You are His!
May God’s sweet affirmations replace all those comparisons. As you identify, understand and embrace who HE created you to be, I’m praying that like the psalmist, you can learn to say with confidence, “Lord, You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:13-14)
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Want to find out more about who God created you to be?
Here’s a link to a FREE Spiritual Gifts Assessment to see what your gifts are!
It’s FREE for everyone!
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Today’s GiveAway: I’m giving away 5 copies of the personality assessment that I talk about in my book A Confident Heart, In chapter 8, I share an in-depth section about personalities and how our unique traits play a key role in our God-given purpose. Today’s giveaway is called Wired That Way Personality Profile and includes a time-tested profile with definitions, instructions to eliminate confusion, a detailed explanation of your scores, and a handy team-building chart that shows how the different Personalities interact.
Enter to win: Share a little bit about what God is speaking to your heart or showing you today through my P31 devotion, this blog post and/or music video. Can’t want to hear from your heart. Simply click “share your thoughts” below. {And if you’re reading this in email, click here.}
Read my Encouragement for Today devotion The Comparison Trap.
Discover more from Renee Swope
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Dear Renee,
God’s divine plans amaze me. We have been talking in church about Habakkuk, and I feel Habakkuk 2:3 is for me, that God has an “appointed time” for some things I’ve been waiting for. Our verse this week coincides with that perfectly (Eph. 2:10) that “I can do the good things He planned for me long ago.” Thank you for doing this study and allowing yourself to be used by God to touch my life and many others : )
the appointed time; one of my favorite scriptures and when I can’t hold to anything else I let my tears fall and ask God to help me hold on till the appointed time
This song starts with words that describe me so clearly! I have heard this song so many times, but today it really spoke love to me and I soooo needed that. I listened to it over and over and again with my two little daughters. They love it too:)
We are meant for so much more than all of this!!! Thank you Lord!!! Now my prayer is that He will show me what that is.
In Chapter 8, you start by saying that at 32 you didn’t have a clue what your dreams or desires were, here I am at almost 43 with not much clarity on these things for my life, other than to mother my daughters. My marriage is struggling and my relationship with my step-sons is difficult and complicated.
Praying for clarity and strength for all of us!
Donna from Honalulu, if you read this I am still praying for you:) Miss your posts…
May God continue to bless you all!!!
Karen
me too Karen; I am mean for so much more than all of this. @59 years old I though my life would be so different now. I’ve got to stop blaming myself for the marriage I’ve threw away. I think that guilt makes the relationship that I’m in now where there seems to be no future marriage commitment hurt even more. How can love hurt so bad??
KAREN- Hi my friend!!!! Don’t you worry- at least you have your daughters to mother and that is a blessing in itself- I cannot have children I had Breast cancer and it forced me into menopause:( But I have fostered a baby boy who is now 5years old and re-united with hi father, I still pick him up from time to time to spend the weekend with Aunty Donna 🙂
I dedicate this song to you & all the ladies reading!
You need to go to youtube and check out the “Katina’s” song called “THANK YOU” These are local boys from the island-but very popular Christian Band
Just read the lyrics-you know it’s so awesome
when I listen to this song- I lift my hands and worship Our Lord- it gives me peace, it also makes my heart happy despite the world of problems around us! Please if you get the chance Karen listen to it!
LYRICS TO “THANK YOU” BY: THE KATINAS
Just a little while longer I wanna pray
Can’t get You off my mind so I came to say
Thank You Lord just for loving me
Many times as I do forget
Every need that You have met
Oh thank You Lord, I know You’re showing me
You are there when I am down and out
You’re holding me, Your love is so amazing
Oh it changed me
Chorus:
Here I am with all I am
Raise my hands to worship You
I wanna say thank you, oh thank you
For everything, for who You are
You cover me, You touch my heart
I wanna say thank you
I could have died in my sin but You saved me
Didn’t have any hope at all
You gave me peace divine, strength to carry on
I should have been the one to pay
But instead You took my place
My Jesus, words cannot explain
Even though I don’t deserve Your love for me
You look beyond my fault and You showed mercy
CHORUS
I wanna say thank you for the sun
I wanna say thank you for the rain
Everything You do is beautiful
I’m so grateful for Your love
it’s difficult to break the pattern of comparison when you’re raised hearing, “why aren’t you more like so-and-so?!”, or “if you looked like so-and-so, life would be kinder to you”, or “if you sang like so-and-so…” or “danced like so-and-so” or “had grades like so-and-so…” or “had talents like” or, well, you get the picture! even now as an adult, there are employers feeding us the same lines, comparing us to co-workers, comparing our companies to other organizations in the industry… it’s almost impossible to look in the mirror and see a true, sincere reflection! i can’t tell you how many times the song “beautiful” has caused me to break down into sobbing… me? Sacred? more like Scared… scared of what the world may see, or do if i don’t measure up… not saying that playing the comparison game is right. just saying that sometimes it becomes a part of who we are… habits hard to break… i know i’m loved, but confidence is not something i possess…
There really is nothing more important than believing that each one of us matters to and are known and loved by God. And I have to tell myself over and over that His way of loving me is beyond comparing to how we frail humans love. He doesn’t mess up or forget or leave. He doesn’t give up on me when I mess up or forget or leave Him for a bit. Thank you, Lord, for loving us so much.
You just don’t know how refreshing it was to let those last few words wash over me . . . loved, cherished, treasured, His . . . how powerful that affirmation was!!! Thank you!! 🙂
As I was listening to this song that I’ve heard so much, it really means so much more when you are truly starting to see who you are to God… tears can’t help but come into my eyes. It’s amazing to me that God loves me… that’s a simple truth that I’m still trying to really grasp. It’s beyond our comprehension… He loves me… all of me. This study is helping me to grow so much in God and his Word… and it’s really made me think about questions for my own life that I never have even though to ask myself…
What do I like to do? What makes my heart come alive? How would I fill my free time if I had no fears on insecurities? If finances were unlimited and failure unlikely, what would be my dream? What would I do if neither time nor money was an issue?
I always go back to this… I’m a big dreamer, and I say if your gonna dream and believe God for something dream big! Nothing shall be impossible with God. My biggest dream and I just want to share is travel and go around the world (wherever God sends me) and tell people about Jesus and most of all that he loves them. Everytime I do devotion at work, it seems like God always centers it right back to LOVE. I love people, and I love talking to people about Jesus. It says in the book of Malachi, how that those that feared God, spake often one to another about Him…and God has a book of remembrance where he writing it down everytime we talk to others about Him…(whether its other believers, or non-believers) he’s keeping a record of it and that blows me away! I want to tell the world about Jesus! That’s my biggest dream, and I truly feel like God has placed that desire in my heart… I want others to know that hope that I’ve come to know and believe! God is so good! I couldn’t have asked for a better study to join… its the first one I’ve ever done and I’m so glad I joined it, and that God has given me the GRACE to keep committed to it. It’s been such a blessing to hear your insight Renee and all these others around the world!
The thing I loved the most about Chapter 8 was the Personality Trait Chart… I was the Sanguine: Desires FUN. And it was me dead on. That’s one thing that I find myself having a hard time doing.. is to not be too serious all the time… and just live life and have fun and enjoy it. I’ve got better, but it’s like I find myself at times being afraid to have fun, not necessarily being afraid… just thinking I’ll get to focused on things of this world and lose my focus on Jesus. I am a serious person, but if there is one trait I wish I had more of it would be to laugh more, and to have more fun. I feel at times that I’m boring… But like I just said that’s a feeling. We don’t go by what we feel, but by what God’s word says… loved this chapter! Looking forward to the rest!
That song just moves me and brings tears to my eyes. I’m am going through a divorce after 17 yrs of marriage. I’m hustling to take care of my three kids and make things as good as I can for them. It’s hard to feel good about myself when I have been betrayed by someone I trusted completely and loved so deeply. I tried so hard to hold things together, but I could not do it alone. God has given me a peace about the divorce, however I still struggle with one big thing. No matter how hard I try, how much I pray, how many times I tell myself this is the result of his choices and I didn’t do anything to deserve this… I can’t shake that nagging buzz in my ear that says “What’s wrong with you?” I ask myself why I wasn’t beautiful enough, was I not nice enough, was I not smart enough, why didn’t I matter enough to my husband.
When I hear the words of this song, I am reminded that my Father thinks I’m beautiful and He created me. (Psalm 139:13)
I know I am worth more that many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)
I know I have a future that my Father holds in His hands. (Jer. 29:11)
I know I can trust Him. (Prov. 3:5-6)
I know I will get through this. (Phil. 4:13)
I know I am in His protection. (2 Sam 22:18)
I know I will be better, stronger, smarter AND more beautiful than ever. (Mark 9:23)
Every day I am stepping out of the boat and walking on faith. 🙂
Amen! Love your list!
All my life, I’ve known that I’m different. I was sick alot as a child.
I’m glad I’m the way god made me. I’m very tall as I’m 6’1. i have a great and encouraging smile. And, I have a very positive attitude. I feel that God wants me to enjoy being the girl that he created and let his love shine thru me and my smile.
I listened to the song today and I sense him saying “you are my girl”
Wow, comparing our insides with our outsides, how amazing is that, We are fearfully and wonderfully made and we still compare ourselves to others, boy, the flesh really does beat us up inside and out doesn’t it. But God’s word is so encouraging and hopeful and will never return void. Praise the Lord!!!
I love the video….great to be reminded that I’m cherished, beautiful and chosen by God! Sometimes we can go through so many things in life, it’s good to be reminded how God views us.
I am always amazed at how God knows EXACTLY what we need. I have been struggling so much lately with who I am and not knowing my purpose. Though I am 55, there have been so many changes and things happening, people moving out of my life, that I feel as though I don’t know what I am supposed to do. When I couldn’t sleep last night, I had a long prayer time with God and gave it all to him. Today, reading the devotion, and listening to the song, tears just streaming down my face, with the reminder that I am beautiful. Thank you so much. Thank you.
I love the thought from the song that there is so much more. I struggle with it since I’m 59 years old and it’s hard for me to believe that there is so much more even at this age. I keep reminding myself that Moses began at 80!
I dare to believe in spite of my feelings. Thanks for the book and this study, and mostly, for the continual encouragement.
Renee: What a blessing this study is. I have suffered from the comparison trap most of my life and God is showing me how wrong I was and how I need to count solely on Him for my afirmation. He sent His Son to die for me. How much more should I need to be affirmed as valuable?
The video you shared made me think about a new friend that my 15 year old daughther has met! He was saved during our churches 3 week revival, and his home life is not great, he doesn’t even like to talk about it. Several months ago he was hanging with the wrong crowd and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now that he has gotten saved, people still look at the old person, and that is so wrong, people should be willing to give chances, because God gave and gives us each and everyone second/third/fourth/etc….chances each and everyday! I would just ask each of you to help me pray for this young man and his family and also help me to pray that my family can be a positive impact in his life, and let him know that we are all beautiful the way God created us all to be in our own special way!
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for speaking God’s word to me in my time of need.
A great message today and oh so timely. It is so easy to compare ourselves to others and feel that we come up short. I am reminded that only He judges and He loves each one of us as He created us. Like it has been shared, we can only see the outside of what we compare ourselves with-I know that He lives in me – and HE is beyond compare. If I can remind myself that if He chose me, then He has decided I AM SOMEONE SPECIAL and He is never incorrect. Blessings to all my SPECIAL Sisters in Christ.
What God is speaking to me is that His expectations of me are the only ones that matter. As you said so well, “He loves the way He made me.” I can be confident that He planted traits in me to see and do things in a certain way–and I don’t have to worry about making choices to please other people. Pleasing Him is my only concern. That is very freeing.
What a chapter. I finished reading this pm, but need to work on the questions. The blog and video set a wonderful tone to do so. Thank you and blessings to all, Julie
Right now I am spinning. I’m unsure what direction God wants me to go. I’m trying to be still and listen. I’m trying to be patient. I’m trying not to feel uncertain and worried. But the truth is I do. Last week I began to sink in the black hole of depression. Fear crept in and began to show me that I wasn’t good for anything; that I had no marketable skills. Why did I quit my short teaching career of eight years? But in my heart I know that God has more intended for me. I don’t know what my gifts or talents are. They aren’t evident to me. But it will come. I’ve taken the Briggs Myers Personality Test and remain confused :-). After a much long and much needed discussion with my (my best friend and supporter), I admitted that I wanted to serve. I wanted to work for our church, however those doors of opportunity aren’t opening. Perhaps God is planning and putting all the pieces together.
In today’s world we get so lost in titles and names that we loose ourselves in all of it. For me I look in the mirror and I see a mom with three teenagers, an accounting clerk, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend, a worker in the nursury, welcome table, and womens group at church. The list could go one but I’m sure we all know that list very well. Most of all though I see myself as invisible. I see myself as unloved, not good enough for anything and just a speck of dirt on the face of this earth. This study has helped me so much with all of this. This chapter and blog show us that we are one of kind. Every speck of dirt is one of a kind and God sees all. So while I may just be a whirlwind mess going from place to place God sees everything I’m doing and He loves me for me. Thank you for showing us that.
My boss is a bully…he often makes fun of me, and is patronizing and condencending…he’s like that with most the employees exept those that are part of his group. I am unappreciated, demorilized and underemployed…I have Master’s Degree , and haven’t looking but have not found better quality of work because of the economy most of us are underemployed. I pray to God every day for God to open a window and find a more positive job environment with a better pay and opporunities in my area of study. Please pray for me. I feel God has forgotten about me and sometimes I am begining to feel discouraged.